ZEELAND, Mich., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gentex Corporation,
the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry, has announced that it is supplying its SmartBeam high-
beam assist feature to BMW for the 2007 model year 3 Series.
SmartBeam uses a miniature camera-on-a-chip combined with algorithmic
decision making to automatically turn a vehicle's high-beams on and off
according to surrounding traffic conditions. The system is designed to
maximize a vehicle's forward lighting and to eliminate the repetitive and
sometimes burdensome task of turning the high beams on and off.
Currently, SmartBeam-equipped 3 Series vehicles are available in Europe
and other select regions around the world. BMW refers to SmartBeam as High-
Beam Assist, or the German translation, Fernlichtassistent, in its
brochures and sales literature. The feature is available in conjunction
with Xenon headlamps.
Gentex is currently shipping SmartBeam to three automakers for 12
different vehicle models worldwide, including the BMW 5, 6 and 7 Series.
The SmartBeam camera and microprocessor are integrated into a Gentex
automatic- dimming rearview mirror, which detects glare from
rearward-approaching vehicles and dims automatically to protect driver
vision and make nighttime driving safer. The mirrors also include a
built-in compass display.
"Studies show that high-beams are one of the most underutilized safety
features on vehicles today," said Gentex Chairman and CEO Fred Bauer. "In
fact, just this past April, the University of Michigan Transportation
Institute released a report showing that North American drivers use their
high-beams less than 25 percent of the time in which conditions justify
their use. SmartBeam is designed to optimize high-beam usage, which helps
drivers identify potential roadway hazards sooner."
A study completed this past July by the TUV Rheinland Group, an
international service company that documents the safety and quality of new
and existing products, systems and services, revealed that drivers not only
appreciate the safety benefits a high-beam assist system would deliver, but
also its comfort and convenience aspects.
The study surveyed drivers in Germany and the United Kingdom, a
majority of whom felt that a high-beam assist system would ease the burden
on the driver by maximizing forward vision while eliminating the fear of
blinding oncoming traffic. Drivers also felt that a high-beam assist system
would be much more convenient than manual high-beam switching.
"There are a lot of new, high-priced vehicle features that solve
problems drivers never knew they had," said Bauer. "SmartBeam, however, is
a relatively low-priced feature that comes with built-in latent demand.
Drivers around the world appreciate the need for high-beam headlamp
automation."
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (Nasdaq: GNTX) is an international
company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive
industry and North American fire protection market. Based in Zeeland,
Michigan, the Company develops, manufactures and markets interior and
exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize
proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of
headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. Many of the mirrors are
sold with advanced electronic features, and approximately 96 percent of the
Company's revenues are derived from the sales of auto-dimming mirrors to
nearly every major automaker in the world.
SOURCE Gentex Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.gentex.com
CONTACT:
Financial Media and Investors, Connie
Hamblin, +1-616-772-1800, or General Media, Craig Piersma,
+1-616-772-1800, both of Gentex Corporation
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